Department for Transport

Aviation: Brexit

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on the viability of the UK aviation sector of the UK leaving the EU.

Chris Grayling: Aviation is critical to both the UK and the EU, so the Government has confidence that an outcome that works in the interests of both sides can be achieved. The Government’s July 2018 White Paper sets out proposals for a comprehensive Air Transport Agreement which seeks to maintain reciprocal liberalised aviation access to, from and within the territory of the UK and the EU, as well as continued participation in the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) system. We will continue to work closely with the international aviation community to ensure that the needs of the industry are addressed as part of the negotiations and that this global industry continues to be a major success story for the UK economy.

Cycling and Walking: Infrastructure

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve infrastructure for cycling and walking.

Jesse Norman: The Government’s statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published in April 2017, set out £1.2 billion of funding available to be invested in measures to increase cycling and walking, including improving infrastructure in England, over the period to 2021.Since the publication of the Strategy, the Department has identified additional infrastructure funding for cycling and walking schemes, including around £77 million of support for schemes via the National Productivity Investment Fund and over £7 million to support cycle safety improvements.The Government has also announced a new £1.7 billion Transforming Cities Fund which will support a number of cities seeking improve local connectivity, including by boosting cycling and walking. The Department also has a major programme of technical support under way to help 44 local authorities in England develop Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans in order to identify future cycling and walking infrastructure schemes.

Road Traffic Offences

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will undertake a public consultation on the adequacy of legislation relating to (a) road traffic offences (b) penalties for motorists who cause (i) serious injury and (ii) death by dangerous driving and (c) the prevention of dangerous driving.

Jesse Norman: The Government is committed to making sure that the courts have sufficient powers to deal with driving offences appropriately and proportionately, and that offences and penalties continue to act as a deterrent.On 16 October 2017, the Government published its response to a consultation on driving offences and penalties relating to causing death and serious injury. The response confirmed proposals to increase the maximum penalty for the offences of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs, from 14 years to life and to create a new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving. The Government will continue to keep offences and penalties under review.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Members: Correspondence

Karen Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility plans to respond to the letter to her dated 31 July 2018 from the hon. Member for Lincoln on small businesses and the contract tending process.

Kelly Tolhurst: I responded to the hon. Member on Wednesday 12 September.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Public Appointments

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what information his Department holds on the socio-economic background of people appointed to senior positions in his Department in the last five years.

Richard Harrington: The Civil Service is currently looking at the best way to start implementing the measures published earlier in June across Government Departments, to better understand the background of people appointed in senior positions. The Government is committed to social mobility, and we are committed to creating an organisation in which everybody can thrive.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Israel: Bedouin

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment has he made of the effect of recent judgments in the Israeli courts on Khan al-Ahmar on Bedouin settlements in the West Bank; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: ​The UK remains gravely concerned by proposals to demolish the Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar which the UN has said could amount to 'forcible transfer', in violation of International Humanitarian Law. Following the decision of the Israeli Supreme Court on 5 September the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued a statement with France, Germany, Spain and Italy reiterating our call to the Israeli Government not to go ahead with its plan to demolish the village – including its school – and displace its residents. Khan al-Ahmar is located in an area of strategic importance for the continuity of a future Palestinian state. It's demolition would strike a major blow to prospects for a two-state solution with Jerusalem as a shared capital by paving the way for settlement building in E1.

Ahmed Mansoor

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with this Emirati counterpart on the sentencing of the human rights activist, Ahmed Mansoor.

Alistair Burt: My officials raised the case of Ahmed Mansoor with their Emirati counterparts at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 15 April. Similarly, in coordination with my officials and other EU member states, the EU Delegation to the UAE raised this case with Emirati officials on 5 July. ​

Israel: Palestinians

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Government of Israel on its plans to demolish the village of Khan Al Mar.

Alistair Burt: ​The UK remains gravely concerned by proposals to demolish the Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar which the UN has said could amount to ‘forcible transfer’, in violation of International Humanitarian Law. Following the decision of the Israeli Supreme Court on 5 September, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued a statement with France, Germany, Spain and Italy, reiterating our call to the Israeli Government not to go ahead with its plan to demolish the village – including its school – and displace its residents. We will continue to raise concerns with the Israeli authorities as opportunities arise.

International Criminal Court

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to recent criticism of the International Criminal Court by the US and Israel, if he will reaffirm the UK's commitment to it.

Harriett Baldwin: ​Support for international criminal justice and accountability – at the national or international level - is a fundamental element of our foreign policy. We have always been clear that the International Criminal Court can play an important role in ending impunity for the most serious international crimes. It has our full support in pursuing the mandate it was given under the Rome Statute.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the decision of the US Administration to close the Palestine Liberation Organization's mission in Washington on the Middle East Peace Process.

Alistair Burt: The US' decision to close the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) office in Washington is a matter for the US Administration. The UK remains committed to achieving a two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital. We continue to believe that the best way to achieve this is through negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians, and for all parties to focus on steps that are conducive to peace.

Libya: UN Security Council

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to fulfil its role as a penholder on Libya in the UN Security Council.

Alistair Burt: The UK has been at the forefront of efforts to encourage key Libyan and international stakeholders to engage productively in an inclusive political process, led by the United Nations. The Security Council has recently adopted the UK's draft resolution for the UN Support Mission in Libya's mandate renewal; ensuring the legal basis for the continuation of the UN's work, vital to the stability and security of Libya. The UK, in coordination with Security Council members, has also led the sanctioning of human traffickers and militia leaders and has recently supported the listing of Ibrahim Jadhran, who was responsible for attacking Libya's Oil Crescent.The UK, alongside other UN Security Council members, will continue to hold to account actors who engage in activities intended to undermine Libya's security and stability.

Attorney General

Vote Leave

Conor Burns: To ask the Attorney General, what discussion he had with First Treasury Counsel in advance of agreeing to act for the Electoral Commission in Vote Leave Ltd's appeal against their recent findings against that organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Geoffrey Cox: The Attorney General does not advise the Electoral Commission who are an independent body and will take their own legal advice. The Attorney General is therefore not representing the Electoral Commission in any proceedings and has not held a discussion with First Treasury Counsel on this basis.

Department for International Development

Palestinians: Television

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2018 to Question 165444 on Palestinians: Television, what information her Department holds on the steps that have been taken by the Palestinian Authority in response to the UK government's raising of the issue of incitement.

Alistair Burt: The Palestinian Authority (PA) has taken action to help address concerns raised. This has recently included piloting new textbooks, and confirming their commitment to engaging seriously with the findings of an independent review of the PA curriculum. I continue to press the Palestinian Authority on these issues.

Caribbean: Hurricanes and Tornadoes

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that the (a) Caribbean British Overseas Territories and (b) Commonwealth Caribbean islands are prepared for hurricane season.

Alistair Burt: The UK provided over £196m in response to the devastating hurricanes in September 2017 in the Caribbean. In preparation for this year’s hurricane season, the Department for International Development (DFID), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence have coordinated response plans to support British Overseas Territories and independent Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean. RFA Mounts Bay is in the region with helicopter airlift capacity and stocks of humanitarian relief items. UK supplies have also been pre-positioned on the island of Antigua. In addition the Secretary of State for International Development has instructed the department to ensure that any response to the impact of hurricanes in the British Overseas Territories and independent Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean will have a priority call on our reserves. DFID is providing expertise to the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and national disaster offices in our partner countries. DFID also supported establishment of a multinational response coordination centre within CDEMA. In the longer term, the UK is investing over £360m in disaster resilient infrastructure across the Caribbean.

Department for Education

Teachers: Recruitment

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2018 to Question 153261 on Teachers: Recruitment, if he will provide the finalised (a) total spending and (b) under-spend on teacher training bursaries in the 2017/18 academic year now that that academic year has concluded.

Nick Gibb: Following the conclusion of the 2017/18 academic year, we require teacher training providers to complete a rigourous financial assurance exercise to demonstrate that they have properly administered training bursary funding on behalf of the Department. This exercise will be complete at the end of the 2018-19 financial year, at which time finalised spend figures will be available.

Carillion: Apprentices

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills of 10 September 2018, Official Report, column 456, how many construction apprentices employed by Carillion were made redundant in July 2018; and what steps the Government is taking to support those people.

Nadhim Zahawi: 341 Carillion apprentices who were unable to find new jobs at the end of July 2018 have been made redundant. Every effort was made to support the apprentices to find new jobs. When Carillion went into liquidation on 15 January 2018, an extensive support programme was established to help 1,148 apprentices employed to find alternative employment. Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) supported 775 apprentices to successfully apply for new jobs with alternative employers in the sector where they have resumed their apprenticeships. Some former Carillion apprentices found work in different sectors or returned to full time education. The 341 apprentices who have been made redundant will continue to receive support from CITB to apply for apprenticeships. They have been offered information, advice and guidance and where appropriate are being encouraged to return to full time education, if they have an appetite to continue their construction qualifications.

Department for Education: Sick Leave

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of days of sick leave taken by staff in his Department for mental health reasons in each year since 2010.

Nadhim Zahawi: The number of working days taken as sick leave for mental health reasons by staff in the department, in each year since 2010, is detailed in the table below.Calendar YearWorking days taken as sick leave for mental health reasons20104202.320112733.220123650.220135136.620145835.720154151.520164607.620175648.42018 (to 31 Aug)5465.6

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Private Sector

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many staff he has certified under Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 to work as prison custody officers in each privately-operated establishment as at 31 December in each of the last five years.

Rory Stewart: HM Prison and Probation do not hold data on the number of staff certified under Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. This table displays the number of funded posts at each privately managed prison for January in each year where data is available.Prison20182017201620152014Altcourse416.21393.21393433424Ashfield173.35152165169171Birmingham501499.5500499497Bronzefield352.66332.79369354355Doncaster411.47406.48399392399Dovegate521.6526516511524Forest Bank529.38573576576548Lowdham Grange449.3406.6427.5413.5407.1Oakwood478.3464.97498439439Parc721.04718.3716720663Peterborough580.5618.01604.51591.91518.97Rye Hill255.75257255256250Thameside399406406351351Northumberland398.3408.3398.7394.5378  Operators of privately managed prisons are required to deliver sufficient recruitment and training of staff to ensure they maintain a safe, decent and secure prison as per their contractual obligation. The performance of all providers continues to be robustly managed. We will not hesitate to take action if and when standards fall short.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence and Self-harm

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which five prisons in the Male Category C estate reported the highest number of (a) assaults and (b) self-harm incidents occurring in 2017.

Rory Stewart: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence and Self-harm

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which five prisons in the male local estate reported the highest number of (a) assaults and (b) self-harm incidents occurring in 2017.

Rory Stewart: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Civil Proceedings: Legal Aid Scheme

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make (a) legal aid and (b) a legal advice and guidance helpline available for people representing themselves in civil court.

Rory Stewart: The ability of everyone to resolve their legal issues is vital to a just society. We are committed to ensuring legal aid and other forms of legal support are available to those who need it. The Government is currently undertaking a post-implementation review of the impact of the legal aid changes made under Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) and remains committed to publishing the findings by the end of this year. One of the reforms introduced as part of LASPO included the introduction of the mandatory telephone gateway for civil/family matters. This is currently being reviewed to ensure that it fulfils its implementation objectives to provide accessible legal advice. Alongside the post-implementation review of LASPO, the Government is looking to the future to establish how best we can empower people to resolve their problems in a modern justice system.

Young Offenders: Reoffenders

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he has taken to reduce reoffending rates amongst young people aged 18-24 in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Rory Stewart: The government is committed to reducing reoffending amongst all offenders. We are working to tackle the causes of reoffending through our wider prison reform agenda, the female offender strategy and the education and employment strategy.We recognise that young adults are a cohort who may have distinct needs relating to their maturity, alongside other issues they may have in common with the adult offender population. We are committed to developing approaches within the adult system that respond to their particular needs and reduce reoffending.The MoJ has appointed a dedicated expert (on secondment from the voluntary sector) to identify best practice across the custodial estate in relation to young adults. This work will scope out areas of specialised practice or approaches that meet the needs of young adults in prisons particularly well.The MoJ innovation board has also grant funded The Disabilities Trust to deliver the awareness training and Brain Injury Linkworker service to the two pilot sites in Wales and the four sites in England. The Brain Injury Linkworker service is being qualitatively evaluated, due to report in the autumn.We have made a maturity screening tool available to prisons and probation areas via the Segmentation Tool, which enables examination of maturity on a population level. Those who are screened as having low levels of psychosocial maturity and who are considered for the maturity resource pack will take part in a further, collaborative, assessment of their needs, through which they will agree their maturity-related treatment goals.For further information, please see Young Adults in the criminal justice system: Government Response to the Committee’s Eighth Report of Session 2017-19 at https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmjust/1530/153002.htm

Reoffenders

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average reoffending rate was of offenders who served sentences in (a) public sector and (b) private sector prisons in each of the last five years.

Rory Stewart: We have published data on reoffending after release from individual prisons here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/676622/prison-youth-accomm-probation-data-tool-jan16-mar16.xlsx Due to data quality issues this data is only available until September 2015. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of this information, with the aim that we can resume publication of this in the future. Since our probation reforms in 2014-2015, while prison staff still have a key role to play, Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) are now responsible for delivering pre-release support for offenders. We have announced our intention to amend CRC contracts to introduce an enhanced through the gate service so that providers do more to help offenders find accommodation and access to employment or benefits on release. On 27 July we published a consultation, ‘Strengthening Probation, Building Confidence,’ which outlines a number of proposals to stabilise and improve probation delivery

Coroners: South East

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average number of days was for a body to be held before release by the West Sussex and Surrey coroners in (a) 2017 and (b) the first six months of 2018.

Edward Argar: The Ministry of Justice does not have operational responsibility for the coroner service and only collects certain information from coroners, for example the number of deaths reported to them and the number of inquests and post-mortem examinations held. The Ministry does not collect information on the time taken for a body to be released to the family.

Ministry of Justice: Sick Leave

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of days of sick leave taken by staff in his Department for mental health reasons in each year since 2010.

Rory Stewart: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Housing

Kirstene Hair: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will carry out a review of whether there is sufficient and quality accommodation available to service personnel on the defence estates.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Holding answer received on 17 September 2018



The quality and quantity of all service accommodation is under continual review by the Department. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to providing high quality accommodation within an appropriate locality to where Service personnel live, work and train.For Service Family Accommodation, the MOD meets the Government Decent Homes Standard, set by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for 95% of its properties, with the overall condition of the accommodation considered as good.The MOD has delivered more than 50,000 new or upgraded Single Living Accommodation bed-spaces, across the estate over the last 15 years and is committed to invest significant additional funding in Defence infrastructure over the next 10-15 years.

Department for Work and Pensions

Statutory Sick Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a flexible model for Statutory Sick Pay to better support those with a mental health condition to return to work on a voluntary phased basis and to receive (a) wages and (b) statutory sick pay on a pro-rata basis.

Sarah Newton: We want to reform the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) system so that it supports more flexible working, which can help people remain or return to work if they are unwell. This includes those with a mental health condition. Consultation responses broadly supported reforming SSP to support fully flexible phased returns to work – as did the Matthew Taylor and Stevenson/Farmer reviews. We are taking forward further policy development on better enabling phased return and how a phased return could be paid, and will bring forward a consultation on these changes before introducing this reform.

Universal Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many working households in receipt of tax credits will receive (a) a lower award and (b) no award at all, under the capital rules for universal credit.

Alok Sharma: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. As announced on 7 June 2018, for claimants with capital exceeding £16,000 who are moved onto Universal Credit by the Department, any capital which exceeds the limit will be disregarded for 12 months, which means they are entitled to Universal Credit. This protection period for claimants is contingent on parliamentary approval of the required legislation. Our most recent estimate for the number of tax credit claimants with capital in excess of £16,000 likely to be managed migrated, across Great Britain, is around 50,000. Analysis shows that approximately 80% of these are estimated to have capital over £20,000, with approximately 50% estimated to have capital greater than £40,000.

Social Security Benefits

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department retains the capacity to revert to the legacy benefit systems.

Alok Sharma: Reverting to legacy benefits would not only create massive disruption for claimants, but would leave them trapped in a complex and confusing system of multiple and overlapping benefits. The legacy benefits system consists of 6 different benefits, each with separate rules and criteria, interacting in complicated ways, creating perverse incentives and confusion, and additional administrative costs. Our staff have been trained in the more flexible and tailored Universal Credit system, which the projections in our published Universal Credit Full Business Case expect to put 200,000 more people into work in the UK. Our new system, will for the first time benefit people in work looking to progress, and enables us to provide extra personalised support and stronger work incentives to help people out of poverty and into work faster. As the National Audit Office noted in their recent report, as the changes have become increasingly embedded across the department, it would be both complex and expensive to revert to legacy benefits at this stage.

New Businesses: Loans

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will introduce small business loans for social security claiments who have a viable business plan for self employment.

Alok Sharma: The Department has no plans to offer business loans to social security claimants who have a viable business plan for self employment. This type of facility would fall within the remit of the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, who already provide Start-Up loans for new businesses. DWP provides support to benefit claimants through the New Enterprise Allowance, which has supported over 113,000 people to start their own business between April 2011 and December 2017.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Flood Control: Kendal

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the date of completion of (a) flood defence maintenance and (b) future flood defence plans for Kendal as a result of Storm Desmond in 2015-2016.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Flood Defence maintenance for the Westmorland and Lunesdale catchments is completed as an annual rolling program which runs from April through to March. The Environment Agency (EA) is on schedule with the 2018/19 program, which is available to view online here:   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/river-and-coastal-maintenance-programme   The proposed Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme is planned to be delivered in multiple phases in keeping with the EA’s strategic approach to managing flooding risk within the River Kent catchment. The first phase of linear flood defences through Kendal also includes improvements to the Stock Beck drainage system in the Sandylands area. Subject to the approvals of the business case and necessary permissions, construction is due to start in May 2019 and be complete by March 2021.   The next phase, starting in 2020, is proposed to deliver two flood storage reservoirs on the River Kent upstream of Kendal, which will further increase the standard of protection to properties. These are due for completion in 2022. This is subject to approvals of the business case and necessary planning permissions.  Natural flood risk measures within the catchment are being developed and delivered within the same time period as part of an ongoing programme of works.

Floods: Land Drainage

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of water drainage systems in postcodes that experienced flooding as a result of Storm Desmond in 2015-2016 to prevent flooding in future severe storms.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Lead responsibility for managing surface water flood risks, including understanding the contribution of local drainage systems, lies with Lead Local Flood Authorities, in this case Cumbria and Lancashire County Councils.   Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 requires Lead Local Flood Authorities to investigate floods in their area.   Lancashire and Cumbria County Councils published flood investigation reports following the Storm Desmond related flooding in 2015-16. These reports cover the role of local drainage systems and include actions.   They are available on the council’s website: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/council/performance-inspections-reviews/environmental/flood-investigation-report/.

Flood Control

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the flood defence capacity in postcodes affected by Storm Desmond in 2015-2016 to prevent flooding in (a) 100 year weather event (b) a 30 year weather event and (c) and a 10 year weather event.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Environment Agency (EA) does not asses flood defence capacity by postcode. Maps showing flood risk throughout England can be found online here:   https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/long-term-flood-risk/map.   The maps indicate where flood risk is high, medium and low; taking into account existing flood defences.   The EA targets investment to reduce the risks of flooding and coastal erosion to as many people as possible, and to get the best outcome for every pound spent. Details of the EA’s programme of flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes can be found online here:   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/programme-of-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-schemes.

Land Drainage: Cumbria

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department has taken in the last three years to ensure that United Utilities have increased drainage capacity in Cumbria since Storm Desmond in 2015-16.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Following Storm Desmond, United Utilities reviewed the resilience of its assets in Cumbria, working with the Environment Agency and Cumbria County Council to produce section 19 reports (Flood and Water Management Act 2010) to investigate the flood incident.   United Utilities also completed a detailed Integrated Drainage Area Study in the Carlisle catchment. It analysed the entire drainage system and worked with stakeholders to produce a comprehensive plan which is now informing investment decisions and shaping how the company operates the drainage system to optimise its resilience.   In the current 2015-20 investment period, United Utilities is investing around £35million in major capital schemes on the sewer network in Cumbria, including £22million in the last two years on the county’s drainage systems.

Flood Control

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what powers his Department has to require water companies to invest in flood defences in areas affected by flooding; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government’s broad approach to resilience of infrastructure from natural hazards (including flooding) is that responsibility lies principally with owners and operators. While there are no specific requirements for water companies to invest in flood defences to ensure their assets are flood resilient, they are required to ensure clean drinking water supplies and so should protect their assets from hazards accordingly. They are also responsible for managing the risks of flooding from surface water and foul or combined sewer systems providing drainage from buildings and yards.   The 2016 National Flood Resilience Review requires water utilities to develop plans for permanently improving resilience of service provision to significant local communities from the most severe flood events. “Resilience in the round” is a key theme of the water sector Price Review 2019 (PR19), with Ofwat’s methodology and performance expectations for water companies including specific commitments on resilience to drought and flooding.   Defra expects Ofwat to challenge water companies to make sure that they assess the resilience of their system and infrastructure against the full range of potential hazards and threats and take proportionate steps to improve resilience where required. This could include promoting, adopting or maintaining sustainable drainage systems or co-investing in flood risk management, investing in permanent defences to protect key assets, as well as working creatively with partners “upstream” as a means of effectively draining their area and delivering multiple benefits where possible.

Farms: Public Footpaths

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to provide funding from the public purse to provide farmers with payments for fulfilling their legal duties to keep paths on their land clear after the UK leaves the EU.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: In England, the cornerstone of future agriculture policy will be the payment of public money for environmental public goods. The Agriculture Bill includes public access in the list of purposes that the Secretary of State may pay for in the future. Paths that provide access to farmers’ land enable people to access and spend time in the natural environment. Infrastructure is required for recreational walking, cycling and horse-riding and providing access to greenspace and countryside for disabled people. This is important for maintaining and improving physical and mental health and wellbeing and therefore provides public benefits.   There are a number of requirements relating to Public Rights of Way that are currently set out in legislation across the UK. We expect land managers to comply with these regulatory obligations, irrespective of whether financial assistance is to be received or not. As we leave the EU we will be assessing how best to deliver outcomes, including through regulation, enforcement and incentives.

Tree Planting

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department's target of planting 180,000 hectares of new woodland in England by the end of 2042 will be adopted as a corporate objective by Forestry Commission England.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Forestry Commission’s Corporate Plan 2018-19 describes how it aims to support the planting of more woodland in England. The Forestry Commission’s current priority is to work with the sector to deliver the Government’s manifesto commitment to plant 11 million trees this Parliament. This and further action by the Forestry Commission and others will contribute to increasing woodland in England in line with our aspiration of 12% cover by 2060, which would involve planting 180,000 hectares by end of 2042.

Packaging: Recycling

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2018 to Question 170273, whether his Department's Waste and Resources Strategy will address the recommendations made in National Audit Office's report, The packaging recycling obligations, HC 1386, published on 23 July 2018.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government is considering the National Audit Office’s report carefully and will consult on reforms in due course.

Curlews: Conservation

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to introduce predator control as part of the work to secure the future of the Curlew.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: As a signatory of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement, we are taking a leading role in the implementation of an international plan to address the conservation status of the curlew. The plan includes a requirement for land management techniques that reduce levels of nest and chick predation to those associated with stable populations. Predator control already takes place to support conservation of curlew, including for example, as part of normal farming and gamekeeping practice.

Agriculture: Biodiversity

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to include predator control in agri-environment schemes.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Predator control plays a useful role in the conservation of ground-nesting birds. To date, English agri-environment schemes have not funded predator control although in some situations this may be encouraged through guidance. The current Countryside Stewardship scheme, for the first time, includes capital items which support the deployment of permanent and temporary anti-predator fencing. This helps conserve ground-nesting birds, which have been shown to benefit from reduced egg and chick losses due to mammalian predators.   Evidence for the efficacy of predator control for species conservation will feed into discussions on future agriculture policy.

Waste Management

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the UK's (a) overall and (b) regional residual waste treatment infrastructure; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The assessment in the Forecasting 2020 Waste Arisings and Treatment Report, published in February 2013, noted that residual waste treatment infrastructure is key to England’s efforts to meet its target of reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) going to landfill. England is on course to meet that target which is 35% of the 1995 baseline by 2020. Waste in the UK is a devolved matter so Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will have their own assessments. In terms of the regional adequacy, the Government’s view is that local authorities are best placed to assess their residual waste management requirements to meet their own local needs and priorities. The forthcoming Resources and Waste Strategy will aim to ensure we have the right mix of waste infrastructure that maximises its value as a resource and minimises its environmental impact.

Department for Exiting the European Union

European Investment Bank

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of giving up the UK's share of European Investment Bank assets in the event that the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: We have agreed a fair financial settlement with the EU. We have ensured that all relevant assets are taken into account and the settlement is adjusted accordingly, and that our capital in the European Investment Bank will be returned to us.The UK also believes it may be mutually beneficial to maintain some form of ongoing relationship with the European Investment Bank Group after leaving the EU, and we are exploring these options with the EU as part of the negotiations on the future relationship.There is no question in any scenario that the UK will give up its share of assets.

Treasury

Beer: Excise Duties

Steve McCabe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing duty on beer.

Robert Jenrick: This government remains clear in its support for consumers, pubs and breweries, and we have taken action to this end – meaning that the price of a pint of beer is 12p is lower than it otherwise would have been since 2013/14. However, we cannot ignore the cost to the Exchequer of successive freezes – equal to over £4 billion since 2013/14. Any assessment of the merits of further freezes or cuts needs to consider the resulting reduction in funds available for vital public services.

Beer: Excise Duties

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) jobs and (b) investment in the brewing and pubs sector of the beer duty freeze announced in the Autumn Budget 2017.

Robert Jenrick: Though we have made no such assessment of the beer duty freeze announced at Autumn Budget 2017 on jobs and investment, this government remains clear in our support for the brewing and pubs sector and the important contribution it makes to employment and community life.

Beer: Excise Duties

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on beer prices of the beer duty freeze announced in the Autumn Budget 2017.

Robert Jenrick: The beer duty freeze has resulted in the average pint of beer being taxed 2p less than it otherwise would have been had duties been uprated in line with RPI.

Duty Free Allowances

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to reinstate duty free sales for passengers leaving the UK for the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Mel Stride: The issues around duty-free are complex, with a range of possible approaches. The government is clear that tax is a sovereign matter and that it will be open to the UK government and Parliament to decide to change its policy in the future, subject to any negotiations with the EU.

Duty Free Allowances

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential tax implications of reintroducing duty free to passengers travelling from the UK to the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Mel Stride: The issues around duty-free are complex, with a range of possible approaches. The government is clear that tax is a sovereign matter and that it will be open to the UK government and Parliament to decide to change its policy in the future, subject to any negotiations with the EU.

Revenue and Customs: East Kilbride

Chris Stephens: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff are employed by HMRC in East Kilbride.

Chris Stephens: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff HMRC plans to employ in East Kilbride when the opening of phase one of its Glasgow regional centre is complete.

Chris Stephens: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff HMRC plans to employ in its Glasgow regional centre when it withdraws from East Kilbride in 2026.

Mel Stride: At 31 August 2018 there were around 2,200 full time equivalent (FTE) HMRC staff employed in East Kilbride.HMRC plans to accommodate around 2,700 FTE employees in its Glasgow Regional Centre when the first phase opens in 2021. When the Regional Centre is fully occupied, HMRC expects the number of employees working at the East Kilbride Transitional Site to have fallen to around 1,100 FTE. This is due to staff moves, retirements and a reduced need for the type of work carried out there.East Kilbride Transitional Site will remain open until 2025-26. Over the next seven years HMRC’s workforce plans will continue to evolve, and it will review its plans for the Glasgow Regional Centre as these plans become clearer.Moving to regional centres will save around £300 million up to 2025. The Programme will deliver annual cash savings of £74 million in 2025-26, rising to around £90 million from 2028.

Revenue and Customs: Staff

Chris Stephens: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many additional EU-related posts HMRC will require by March 2019 in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Mel Stride: Jon Thompson, HMRC’s Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary, has confirmed in evidence to the Public Accounts Committee that HMRC estimate that between 3,000 and 5,000 additional staff would be required in a ‘no deal’ scenario.

Revenue and Customs: Staff

Chris Stephens: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many of the additional EU-related posts that HMRC will require by March 2019 in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal will be located in Scotland.

Mel Stride: HMRC has offices in all regions of the UK and most work is not geographically specific. Any changes to staffing levels within HM Revenue and Customs as a result of the UK leaving the EU will be dependent on the outcome of negotiations.

Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

Chris Stephens: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average cost per call is of opening HMRC contact centres (a) Monday to Friday and (b) on a (i) Saturday and (ii) Sunday.

Mel Stride: HMRC does not hold this information because they allocate staff resource in a flexible manner across a range of customer services and channels. This allows HMRC resource to be used more effectively and delivers better value for money.

Revenue and Customs: Staff

Chris Stephens: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many HMRC workers are aged (a) under 25, (b) 25 to 39, (c) 40 to 49 and (d) 50 and over.

Mel Stride: The number of HMRC workers as requested are: a) Under 25 – 2666b) 25 to 39 – 18602c) 40 to 49 – 14676d) 50 and over – 27623 This data is correct as at 31 August 2018 and includes all current employees of HMRC (including those on career breaks, loans and long-term absence)

Revenue and Customs: Ipswich

Chris Stephens: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the overall (a) cost and (b) projected staffing numbers of the HMRC Building Our Future programme changed following the decision to retain the Ipswich office of HMRC as a permanent specialist location after 2026.

Mel Stride: HMRC does not expect the decision to retain Ipswich, Haven House as a Specialist Site, to have an impact on either the overall costs or projected staffing numbers for its Locations Programme. HMRC monitors its spending closely and is continuing to deliver the Programme within its existing funding. Moving to regional centres will save around £300 million up to 2025. The Programme will deliver annual cash savings of £74 million in 2025-26, rising to around £90 million from 2028.

Revenue and Customs: Small Businesses

Laura Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department provides financial assistance for HMRC to help local businesses run (a) the small self-administered scheme and (b) other schemes.

Mel Stride: This government has always provided HMRC with the resources it needs to carry out its responsibilities. At the 2015 Spending Review, the government invested £1.3 billion to transform HMRC to make it quicker and easier for customers to deal with HMRC.